Crippling Anxiety income support

cmanx

Hello, my name is Christopher.

I am hoping for some support and knowledge about what I can do to potentially leave work. I have been fighting anxiety and depression since I was 9 years old and everytime my anxiety goes off I am left a shell of myself and its killing me.

I have worked hard to fight it many many times and have tried every avenue to try and beat it but it is always part of me. It triggers at random with stress or worry, I constantly feel like a failure or an imposter when doing my job even when I am stable. I have had good times but the longest period between bouts is about 9 months.

I am very open about my illness with people and I am not ashamed of it but a working environment creates to many variables for my mind to handle. I have tried simpler jobs (I started out entering data) and still had massive anxiety, depression and panic attacks when I thought I had entered some details wrong. I have worked through levels and have moved roles through time but regardless of the job I have still fallen. 

I am so tired of my anxiety, the fear and misery. 

I am currently 4 days into a bad bout which has led me to this site. I usually push through and don't take sick leave but couldn't cope last night and my wife and I made the decision to self cert for Thursday and Friday. (I have next week booked off as annual leave).

Making the decision to go off poorly has allowed some release but has also added to my anxiety as I am now extremely worried about going back. I roll with the waves of emotion, I burst into tears, I shake, I feel the pit of desperation, the fear inside and the panic that builds. (Have I made a mistake at work, are they talking about me, what have I done wrong etc) The invisible fog is a constant and an almost physical block in my mind/brain that won't let me think clearly.

I know it's a long shot and something I never thought I would be looking for but is there anything out there in terms of benefits that would allow me to give up my job?

I honestly don't know what to do.

Thank you

poppy123456

First you should look at claiming SSP from your emploter. You will need to provide a fit note for this and send it to your employer. https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/eligibility This is paid for 28 weeks.

Are either of you claiming any benefits at all? If so which ones? If you're not then you can use a benefits calculator to check entitlement to Universal Credit. (UC) As it's a means tested benefit then you will need to claim with your wife. Your joint circumstances will be taken into consideration. If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator

If it shows entitlement then when you claim you should report your health condition, supported by a fit note within 7 days of that.

There's also New style ESA but claiming this will depend on your NI contributions in the previous 2 tax years. It's not means tested so other income/savings/capital will not affect it, apart from pensions of more than £85/week. It can't be paid at the same time as SSP so if you claim SSP then you can start a claim for ESA 3 months before this ends. ESA won't start until the day after SSP ends. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance

If you claim both the above together then the ESA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

If you're claiming Tax credits then this will end if you make a claim for UC.

Unless you live in Scotland there's also PIP, it's a disability benefit that isn't means tested. Some information in links. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf

Hope this helps. If you have any further questions then please do ask.

chiarieds

Hi @cmanx - & welcome to the community. Hopefully this short break will help you, but you obviously have ongoing health problems. Depending on your circumstances there are a few options.

If employed, then discuss your options first with your employer rather than resigning; ill health retirement may be possible. If you have an occupational pension, then, depending on your age, check its terms. 

There's Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you're eligible: https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay   which is paid by your employer for 28 weeks, if you find you're unable to work, then if you have sufficient National Insurance contributions for the past 2 financial years ESA is possible. This can be claimed up to 3 months before any SSP ends. 

Universal Credit (which does depend on your joint savings) is another possibility, you can see some of the scenarios with ESA & UC here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance#eligibility

There's also PIP, which isn't means tested, tho unfortunately it can take some time to find out whether you'd be awarded or not. Please see: https://www.gov.uk/pip  Have a look here at the activities that are looked at with PIP: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/asset-library/personal-independence-payment-descriptors-and-scores-april-2023.pdf

It would be an idea to have a look at a benefits checker to see what may be available with your circumstances. Please see: https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

Hope some of this helps, but definitely try the benefits calculator/

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @cmanx

Firstly, I wanted to say welcome to the community! I am so happy to see our members have been able to advise and support you It's always lovely to see when I come into work.

I wanted to check in and ask if you have any support around you? I wondered if you had spoken to your GP over the years as you have been dealing with anxiety and depression for so long. If you do think you'd benefit from talking therapies, you can refer yourself through the NHS website.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need any further support. 

cmanx

Hi chiariedswoodbine and @Hannah_Scope.

Thank you for your information I will do some research on the links you provided.

I am monitored by my GP in regards to my medication and conditions, which are well documented, I am lucky to have a support network (wife, mum and dad, and family)

They have all seen me during episodes.

It gets harder to cope with each time it ocurs and I feel all of the pressure on me to get back to a 'stable state'. I have done it for so long now that it has to stop and I am not sure what the solution is.

We need money to pay bills and put food on the table and pay the mortgage and I have never claimed a penny from the government.

I am a hard worker but my anxiety steers me and I don't handle change or stress well. Like alot of anxiety suffers routine is part of the process. Sometimes I can handle it but then its evident that something just needs to occur to push me over the edge and my mind fails.

I often when stable miss the signs and push back the doubt, but it always comes to get me at somepoint. It's only in despair do I then have realisation for the need to escape.

Thank you for your comments and I will investigate, I am not under any illusion that what support there is (if it can apply to me) will replace my salary but it might be enough to make the difference and give me an exit option.

Christopher.


 

Hannah_Alumni

I hope it is enough to give you an exit option. With the benefit calculators, I would encourage you to see what you could be eligible for if you worked part time too. Just to give you options when weighing everything up.

I went down to part time for a while in a previous job to give me that time to work on my mental health. 

cmanx

Hi chiariedswoodbine and @Hannah_Scope and poppy12345

Thank you for your information I will do some research on the links you provided.

I am monitored by my GP in regards to my medication and conditions, which are well documented, I am lucky to have a support network (wife, mum and dad, and family)

They have all seen me during episodes.

It gets harder to cope with each time it ocurs and I feel all of the pressure on me to get back to a 'stable state'. I have done it for so long now that it has to stop and I am not sure what the solution is.

We need money to pay bills and put food on the table and pay the mortgage and I have never claimed a penny from the government.

I am a hard worker but my anxiety steers me and I don't handle change or stress well. Like alot of anxiety suffers routine is part of the process. Sometimes I can handle it but then its evident that something just needs to occur to push me over the edge and my mind fails.

I often when stable miss the signs and push back the doubt, but it always comes to get me at somepoint. It's only in despair do I then have realisation for the need to escape.

Thank you for your comments and I will investigate, I am not under any illusion that what support there is (if it can apply to me) will replace my salary but it might be enough to make the difference and give me an exit option.

I don't what I will do with out one.

Christopher

poppy123456

Help with the mortgage would be through Support For Mortgage Interest. (SMI) For this you need to be claiming Universal Credit for 3 months. However, it’s a loan that will need to be repaid back if you sell your home in the future. See link https://www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage-interest/eligibility

Whether there’s any entitlement to UC will depend on circumstances of yourself and your wife. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take into consideration the bills you have to pay. Please use the benefits calculator I linked to above. 

Bettahm

cmanx said:

Hi chiariedswoodbine and @Hannah_Scope and poppy12345

Thank you for your information I will do some research on the links you provided.

I am monitored by my GP in regards to my medication and conditions, which are well documented, I am lucky to have a support network (wife, mum and dad, and family)

They have all seen me during episodes.

It gets harder to cope with each time it ocurs and I feel all of the pressure on me to get back to a 'stable state'. I have done it for so long now that it has to stop and I am not sure what the solution is.

We need money to pay bills and put food on the table and pay the mortgage and I have never claimed a penny from the government.

I am a hard worker but my anxiety steers me and I don't handle change or stress well. Like alot of anxiety suffers routine is part of the process. Sometimes I can handle it but then its evident that something just needs to occur to push me over the edge and my mind fails.

I often when stable miss the signs and push back the doubt, but it always comes to get me at somepoint. It's only in despair do I then have realisation for the need to escape.

Thank you for your comments and I will investigate, I am not under any illusion that what support there is (if it can apply to me) will replace my salary but it might be enough to make the difference and give me an exit option.

I don't what I will do with out one.

Christopher

Just wondering...
with a few of the things you said and the intense anxiety, if youd ever looked into an autism diagnosis. 

cmanx

Hi @Bettahm @hannah_Scope
@poppy123456

I haven't thought about being diagnosed as Austisic I am not sure how I would go about it. My anxiety can cripple me and I try to get to a stable point and maintain it but it's always in the background clawing at me or set off by someone saying the wrong thing, sometimes loud noises and it eventually it grabs hold. My brain is definitely not wired the same as anyone else but not sure where it sits.

I would say I am on the spectrum somewhere. I have been under GP care for all these years though and it's never been raised to my knowledge.

Part time maybe an option but not sure how it would affect the business though or if they would allow it.

I know it would be possible short term maybe 4 days per week or something. Ideally 16 hours but the pay cut would be massive and I would still feel the pressure and I am sure they would want full time and eventually manage me out.

It's a nightmare and I am really lost as to what to do. 

But will try the avenues.

Thank you.

Bettahm

@cmanx
In my experience gps dont recognize autism but it would be him to do the referral. By what you say, and you have said more now, you are on the spectrum. 
Just thinking getting the diagnosis could help you financially somewhere down the line.
I'm late diagnosed autistic with bad anxiety, now agoraphobia as well, and depression. My gp refused to refer me but Steps 2 Change did it.
Imho it would be well worth getting the referral asap.

Albus_Scope

@cmanx I'd never considered an autism diagnosis before, I just thought I had crippling anxiety/agoraphobia/depression/ptsd and was a bit odd.  I finally spoke to my GP after watching a documentary about Autism and after my sister got her ADHD diagnosis.  I filled in the forms, the doctor sent them off and then I waited 18 months for an assessment.  But yes, I scored fairly high on the ASD assessment. 

 I actually think that was the first time I did well in a test?

I of course cannot give medical advice or diagnosis, but exploring other avenues may help you get some answers. Something to think about anyway.